Weekend festivals, race expected to draw crowds

There’s a mixed bag of events scheduled throughout Central Carolina this weekend, including shopping, musical entertainment and running for childhood literacy.

Sanford Arts & Vine Festival

It’s the final push for organizers of the Sanford Arts & Vine Festival, which makes its debut this weekend.

Looking to expand on the now-defunct Sanford Pottery Festival, the weekend event will focus on a variety of art forms, feature more than a dozen wineries and offer musical acts over the course of three days, said Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce President Bob Joyce, one of the festival’s organizers.

“I think certainly the quantity and quality of exhibits will surprise people,” Joyce said. “We have some outstanding artists from the Southeast. We are building on the 11 successful years of the Sanford Pottery Festival and making it even bigger and better from here.”

Doors open for the kickoff concert, featuring Shannon Whitworth, Huckleberry Blue, Scarlet and Crush, at 5 p.m. Friday, and tickets are $16.29 in advance and $20 at the door. The vendors will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, located at 1801 Nash St. Festival entrance is $5.

Race to Read 5K Fun Run/Walk

Local runners have a chance to lace up their shoes to raise money for Lee County students Saturday.

Presented by the Sanford-Lee County Youth Council, runners will take their mark at 9 a.m. in the rear parking lot of Spring Lane Cinemas, located at 1351 Plaza Blvd., for the Race to Read 5K Fun Run/Walk. The proceeds from the $25 registration fee will provide reading materials to Lee County School students.

Sanford-Lee County Community Development Director Karen Kennedy serves as the city’s liaison to the youth council and said the council is a strong force in the community.

“I hope (the participants) see the importance of the youth council and support them in their literacy project,” Kennedy said.

This is the second year that the youth council has held a 5K race, and Kennedy said registration will be open at 8 a.m. the day of the race. Awards will go to the top three overall male and female runners along with awards by age.

Cameron Spring Antiques Street Fair

Nearly 300 vendors are set to line the main thoroughfare through Cameron Saturday for the town’s annual spring street fair.

Thousands usually attend the Cameron Spring Antiques Street Fair — scheduled for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday on Carthage Street — in search of the perfect item, said Jane Fairbanks, owner of one of Cameron’s antique shops — The Old Hardware.

“It is a very broad spectrum,” Fairbanks said. “People come looking for everything, and hopefully they find that one thing that is special to them.”

The festival has been a staple for the Cameron community for decades, typically drawing antique collectors and history hunters in droves.

“I think people keep coming back because of our little historic town,” Fairbanks said. “People enjoy walking down the streets of Cameron, and the feeling and character of the town pervades through the event.”

The event is free to the public, and the festival will also include food and refreshments. More information is available at www.antiquesofcameron.com